San Diego State University (SDSU) vs U of A

San Diego State University (SDSU) and University of Arizona (UA) are two prominent public research universities located in vibrant cities with distinct characteristics. SDSU, situated in the heart of San Diego, California, offers a diverse range of academic programs and boasts a strong emphasis on experiential learning. In contrast, UA, nestled in the historic city of Tucson, Arizona, is renowned for its robust research endeavors and a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degrees. While both universities share similarities in terms of academic excellence and vibrant campus life, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into the specifics and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
San Diego State University logo

San Diego State University

University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Overview

Location San Diego, California Tucson, Arizona
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 90.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 37.9% 87.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A 1120 - 1370
ACT range N/A 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0%
Total number of applicants 67,660 48,065
Total number of admissions given out 25,646 41,946
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,269 8,436
Yield rate 20.5% 20.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,256

Out of state: $40,136
In state: $30,136

Out of state: $54,658
Average net price $6,867 $17,242
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $11,299

Out of state: $35,821
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $12,824

Meal plan: $6,344
Room/dormitory: $8,400

Meal plan: $5,050
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

47.0%
Average amount $9,026
92.0%
Average amount $13,790
Students receiving federal student loan 18.0%
Average amount $5,015
24.0%
Average amount $4,845
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $21,638
3.0%
Average amount $20,814

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,321
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Graduate students 5,163
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 24.2% 48.8%
International students 5.5% 6.5%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,514 7,036
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Colorado Texas New Jersey Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 26:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.2% 64.3%
Dropout rate 20.5% 14.3%
Transferred out 1.4% 19.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,200
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $87,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,225
  • Year 2: $87,377
  • Year 3: $85,451
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,870
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $80,004
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,965
  • Year 2: $65,089
  • Year 3: $79,350
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,385
  • Year 2: $69,757
  • Year 3: $78,880
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,997
  • Year 2: $66,318
  • Year 3: $76,755
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,008
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $75,680
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,000
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $75,014
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,495
  • Year 2: $62,317
  • Year 3: $73,021
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,099
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $72,884
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,673
  • Year 2: $123,527
  • Year 3: $127,192
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,426
  • Year 2: $117,473
  • Year 3: $122,962
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,630
  • Year 2: $103,746
  • Year 3: $104,908
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,116
  • Year 2: $83,388
  • Year 3: $98,461
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,677
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $98,271
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $96,308
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,806
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $89,884
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,657
  • Year 2: $73,035
  • Year 3: $87,557
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,627
  • Year 2: $79,199
  • Year 3: $86,387
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,284
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $83,742

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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